Emotional Support and Mental Health Among Somali Men in a Rural Midwestern Town

• Published in: Journal of rural mental health Vol. 44; no. 3; pp. 170 - 183
• Main Authors: Tippens, Julie A., Parra, Gilbert R., Habecker, Patrick, Gocchi Carrasco, Kimberly, Andrews, Arthur R., Palmer-Wackerly, Angela L., Chaidez, Virginia, Soliz, Jordan, Pytlik Zillig, Lisa M., Dombrowski, Kirk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Educational Publishing Foundation 01-07-2020; National Association for Rural Mental Health
• Subjects: African Cultural Groups; Distress; Emotional Support; Help Seeking Behavior; Human; Male; Mental Health; Refugees; Rural Environments; Social Support; Stress; Test Construction; Treatment; Well Being; social support; determinants of health; refugees; help seeking; United States
• ISSN: 1935-942X; 2163-8969
• DOI: 10.1037/rmh0000136

Perceived social support has been correlated with refugees' positive mental health outcomes; yet, little is known about the perceived sources of support after secondary migration to new-destination rural towns. Somali refugee men (n = 49) residing in a rural Midwest United States community were recruited using respondent-driven sampling to complete a self-administered structured survey in English or Somali using audio computer-assisted self-interview software. Questions assessed perceived sources of support, psychological distress, and happiness. Somali participants reported low utilization of both informal (30.4%) and formal (24.4%) supports when sad, stressed, or worried. Two thirds of participants reported low levels of distress and 98% reported being happy or very happy. This exploratory research contributes to understandings of Somali men's perceived support in a postsecondary migration setting. We discuss implications for social support interventions and culturally tailored assessment, diagnoses, and treatment to enhance Somalis' support and psychological well-being.